Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Partylist Representative Leila de Lima expressed concern that the Philippines’ moral ascendancy in opposing China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) has been compromised following the United States’ attack on Venezuela.
De Lima lamented the incident, saying it mirrors the actions of other superpowers.
“The attack on Venezuela and abduction of President Maduro undermines the rules-based international order, thus setting a terrible precedent of heightened aggression by superpowers,” she said.
She added, “It normalizes Russia’s invasion and continued war on Ukraine, China’s expansionist aggression in the South and East China Seas, and Israel’s genocide on the Palestinian people.”
According to De Lima, the U.S. move has dragged the world back to an era where “might makes right” and disregarded the progress achieved by the United Nations after World War II.
“As a US ally, this leaves the Philippines with a compromised moral ascendancy in protesting, condemning, opposing, and fighting China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea. This is due to the fact that our major ally against Chinese aggression uses that same aggression against a smaller neighbor like what the Philippines is to China. This reflects poorly on us as well, regardless of our own faithful adherence to international law, simply because the US is our ally,” de Lima explained.
She emphasized that the attack should serve as a “reality check” for the Philippines in viewing the United States as a moral leader in maintaining regional security and a rules-based international order.
De Lima urged Congress to hold high-level consultations with defense, intelligence, security, and foreign affairs agencies to craft a comprehensive response.
“I therefore call on Congress to conduct high-level consultations with our national defense, intelligence, security, and foreign affairs communities to draw up a comprehensive and strategic response, in terms of executive policies supported by legislation, to the impact of superpower aggression on our own precarious situation in the West Philippine Sea,” she added.